The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) to call off the nation-wide shutdown (banda) it has announced for March 30.
In a press statement issued by Commission’s Secretary Bed Bhattarai here Wednesday, the Commission has condemned the strike, stating that it was an assault on human rights and it would cause grave inconvenience to public.
The statement reads, “The closure is poised to adversely impact the students taking the Secondary Education Examination (SEE) on the same day as well as the Nepal Bar Association’s nation-wide election.”
The constitutional rights body stated that the common people would bear the brunt of shutdown as it would infringe the rights of people guaranteed by the constitution as well as various national and international human rights conventions such as right to health, education, employment and justice, among others.
The Commission also urged the dissenting Chand-led group to ensure environment where one and all could exercise the rights enshrined by the constitution.
Furthermore, it urged the group to put an end to extortion, violence and terror.
Stating that through dialogues, any differences or conflict could be resolved, NHRC has cited the instance of the decade-long armed conflict and other struggles and agitations in the country that were resolved through dialogue and talks.
